Heat recovery system for catalytic conversion processes



, Sept. 7, 1948. c. s. REED ETAL 2,448,550

nan nacovmur svsml FOR cummc convnnsxon rnocnssas Original Filed Jan. 29. 1941 WW!- my am 5 2 9 I I I 9 -52 f 62mm: 5 Z0ne ii a i 1 i I 4 m 12 INVENTORS flask fked Vgvors 6a} .51 Reed and #49145 Ila/fly ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1948 p HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR CATALYTIC CONVERSION PROCESSES Carl S. Reed, New York,

and August Henry Schutte, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y., assignors to The Lummus Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 478,564,

February 20, 1943, cation Serial No.

which is a division of appli- 376.488, January 29, 1941.

This application January 6, 1947, Serial No.

7 Claims. (Cl. 196-42) This invention relates to improvements in processes for effecting chemical reactions by catalysis. The present application is in eil'ect a division of application Serial No. 376,486, filed January 29, 1941 and entitled "Catalysis," being also a continuation of copending application Serial No. 476,564, filed February 20, 1943, now abandoned and entitled "Heat recovery system for catalytic conversion processes.

In the field of hydrocarbon conversion by catalysis, it has been customary to use a catalyst in lump or similar form positioned in a suitable reaction chamber. As vapors are passed over the catalyst for reaction, the catalyst rapidly becomes fouled and is rendered inefllcient. It is usually necessary to take the chamber of! stream after a relatively short period to revive the catalyst by removing the carbon and other materials deposited thereon during the conversion reaction. Ordinarily, several duplicate catalyst chambers are provided for continuous conversion of vapors: but each chamber has only a limited"on stream period during which it is active, after which time the reactivation must take place. As the catalytic conversion is usually endothermic and the reactivation exothermic, temperature conditions in a particular chamber cannot be kept stable, and the great heat loss which takes place or the expensive heat recovery systems necessitated as well as the multiplicity of chambers required for continuous operation have made the i use of this process very costly.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a closed cycle catalytic reaction system in which a powdered catalyst is continuously passed through a reaction zone in intimate suspension in the vapors to be reacted and then, after separation from the vaporous reactants, continuously passed through a reactivation zone and thence recycled for admixture with further feed, each zone being continuously maintained at its optimum temperature and pressure conditions whereby the initial cost as well as the operating cost of the catalytic reaction may be reduced.

A more specific object of our -invention is to provide an improved control for a continuous powdered catalyst reaction cycle in which the pressures in the various parts of the system are independently maintained by sufficient heads of compacted powdered catalyst to prevent contamination of vapors or loss of reacted products without requiring complicated and expensive mechan-v ical seals or valves.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred form of'embc'dim'ent thereof which is a diagrammatic view of a suitable flow sheet.

In accordance with our invention, we provide a complete closed continuous cycle process for effecting a catalytic reaction with a powdered catalyst and thereafter reactivating the catalyst and then returning it to be admixed with fresh feed. Such process has primary value and importance in the conversion of hydrocarbons and will be specifically described in connection therewith although it will be appreciated that the process can be used equally as well with other reactants.

More specifically, fresh feed to be reacted, vapors which have been previously heated in some manner, is' introduced at l0 under pressure of blower l2 and under control of damper or valve l3 and is discharged into'the conversion zone It. At the same time. a suitable powdered catalyst is fed into the conversion zone at a predetermined rate by the conveyor lB,'which may have a suitable feeding means The conversion zone ll may be of any desired and satisfactory type but is preferably an elongated tube of such length and diameter as to assure a suillcie'nt time of reaction during the passage therethrough of the catalyst and vaporous reactants. Such zone may be externally heated, if found desirable, and should be sufllciently insulated so that the temperature drop of the relatively hot vapors and catalyst will not be objectionable during their passage therethrough.

The catalyst is preferably in a powdered form and may be ground as line as -400 mesh, in which condition its area of contact is far greater per pound of catalyst than in the usual lump form. In such form, it will commingle very well with the vapors and will assist in establishing a high conversion within a short time of travel.

After removal from the conversion zone, the

reacted vapors and catalyst are separated by the separator l8, which may be of the "cyclone" type. The reacted vapors are withdrawn overhead from the separator as by conduit 20, and the separated catalyst is removed through the vertical conduit 22. Conduit '22 is connected to conduit 24, through which the catalyst is passed by means of a feed means 25 under control of motor 26.

The conduit 22 is relatively long and of such size that, if it is kept full of catalyst, there is no likelihood of any vapor lcsstherethrough. A

powdered catalyst will settle to such an extent .zone from each other.

that -it is possible to have a column of catalyst within reasonable limits of length which will have a pressure drop for small flows of vapor that will be substantially-equal to the desired differential of pressure between the separator l8 and the lower end of conduit 22. The motor 28. which removes the catalyst from the conduit 22, is operated at such a speed that the conduit 22 will be kept full of gravity-packed catalyst. A level control diagrammatically shown at 28 and responsive to movement ofcompacted catalyst past an upper point in the conduit 22 may be used for this pur- The catalyst which has been used in the foregoing reaction is now passed from conduit 24 into the reactivation chamber 30 together with air and flue gas from line 3! which air serves to burn off the carbon and othercatalyst-fouling contaminant-s. This reactivation is usually an exothermic reaction, and the chamber 30 may be suitably lined with refractory brick 32 to reduce heat loss to a minimum. Such practice assures removal of the powdered catalyst and the products of combustion, which comprise flue gases primarily, at a high temperature through conduit 33 into the flue gas separator and heat exchanger 36.

Like separator i8, separator as may also be of the "cyclone" type and has a similar function in that it separates the reactivated catalyst from the vapors. The vapors (which are the products of combustion) are withdrawn through line 80, and the catalyst settles in vertical con- 'duit 36 which is of sufficient length so that the vapors can not escape through the body of catalyst contained therein. Conduit SB-is provided with a secondary conduit or Jacket 31 forming a liquid chamber 39, through which a heat exchanging medium such as water can be circulated; since the catalyst is very hot, substantial amounts of steam can be produced.

If desired, the water chamber 39 may be interconnected by the line 42 with the boiler 43, from which steam may be removed at N. The boiler 43 is preferably provided with the downcomer 45, which is interconnected with the lower portion of the water chamber 39 by the line ll. Provision is made for the introduction of makeup water through the line 46.

' The compacted catalyst is maintained at the desired height in the conduit 38 so that a loss of vapor through the conduit 38 is prevented. As in the former case, this retention of a packed mass of catalyst of predetermined extent may be accomplished by means of a level control 8, which controls motor 49, which in turn operates the initial feed means II. It will also be noted that the heat transfer from the extended column of hot catalyst is sumciently great to produce a substantial quantity of steam which. can be used for power purposes. The steam in turn tends to maintain a uniform temperature in the elongated conduit 38. 7

It will thus be seen that the system is pressure tight by virtue of the two gravity-packed vertical columns of catalyst which completelyisolate the conversion zone and the reactivation Furthermore, the catalyst moves continuously first through an endothermic conversion zone and then an exothermic reactivation zone, each of which may be maintained at its optimum temperature and pressure. If it is desired to alter the flow of catalyst, this may be readily accomplished by varying the speed of either or both motors or by means of 4 a variable speed drive placed between one motor and its driven feed means. Fresh catalyst may be introduced at l9 and is preferably passed through a similar vertical column to automatically provide a pressure seal.

A part of the vapors removed from the separator it after passage through the conversion zone I4 is usually recirculated, the recycle ratio being dependent upon the rate of conversion. This recirculation may be accomplished by passing a portion of the vapors from line 20 through line 53 and line 52 to the fresh feed vapor line in.

If the vapors in line 2!) carry too much catalyst in suspension, that portion not recirculated may be passed through a secondary separator M, which may also be of the cyclone" type. The small amount of catalyst separated therein may also be recirculated with the vapors through line 52; in some cases this procedure may have a beneficial effect. Suitable dampers or valves Ma and lit may be provided to regulate the amount of material which is recirculated past separator W. A heater 5Q may be provided to control the heat content of the recirculated vapors. Their quantity and quality may be accurately controlled by regulation of the speed of the respective motors 26 and d9 heretofore mentioned and by control of the temperature in conversion zone i l and heater 5E and also by control of the temperature of the reactivation system. Highly accurate production control is thus obtainable at all times.

In a similar manner, a more complete separation of catalyst from the flue gases or products of combustion may be accomplishesd by passing the gases in line 60 to the secondary flue gas separator 62, from which the catalystfree flue gas is withdrawn through line 63 by blower 64 under control of damper 65.

The small amount of catalyst which may be separated out of the flue gases in this secondary separation may be returned to the reactivation zone through line 61. At the same time, some of the flue gas is conducted through line 65, under control of damper Ill and by means of blower H, into line 3i, into which air is forced from supply line I2 by blower 14. A damper or valve I5 controls the amount of air supplied.

It will be appreciated that some admixture of flue gas with the air is usually desirable to control the exothermic reaction in chamber 30 as the introduction of pure air may cause too rapid a generation of heat therein. Dampers l0 and 15 afford means for accurate adjustment.

It will be appreciated one of the most important features of the invention is the continuity of flow of all materials, which continuity makes possible the establishment of relatively constant temperature conditions in the respective zones in which the reactions are carried out. While in one zone it may be necessary to continuously add heat it is possible in the other zone to continuously and simultaneously remove heat which can be applied to useful purposes so that the heat balance will show a minimum fluctuation tem is inexpensive ble to obtain a differential of pressure either at low or high absolute pressures so that the apparatus is useful for various catalytic reactions including the conversion of hydrocarbons.

A third ieature is the simplicity of obtaining a substantial separation of the gaseous from the granular materials without great heat loss and the recirculation of the small portions of the catalyst incompletely removed in the first separation stage without deleterious result. The sysmum number of operating parts to become out of order or require adjustment.

Although we have described a preferred form 01' embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent that modifications may be made thereto; therefore, only such limitations as appear in the claims appended hereinafter should be applied.

We claim:

1. The method of continuously carrying out a catalytic hydrocarbon reaction, which comprises continuously feeding catalyst and vaporous reactants through a conversion zone, separating reacted products from spent catalyst, continuously feeding spent catalyst through a reactivation zone in the presence of reactivating gas, continuously separating the reactivating gas from the reactivated catalyst, returning the catalyst to the conversion zone, maintaining a vertical head of catalyst in a gravity-packed mass to form a seal between the first separation zone and the reactivation zone and between the second separation zone and the conversion zone such that a pressure diilerential may be maintained, maintaining a pressure differential between said zones, introducing water into indirect heat exchange relation with the vertical head of catalyst between the reactivation zone and the conversion zone and removing the steam generated from the zone of indirect heat exchange.

2. In combination with a separator for continuously separating a hot powdered catalyst from a gaseous material, a vertical conduit for reception and passage therethrough of thesepa rated catalyst, means to maintain said conduit substantially full of hot catalyst in a gravitypacked mass, the length of said conduit being such that the powdered catalyst therein will serve as a gas seal, a chamber surrounding said conduit and extending along a major portion of the length of the conduit, a steam drum, and means to pass-water through said chamber in an upward fiiirection, countercurrent to the movement of catalyst throughthe conduit and into said steam drum whereby heat may be continuously removed from said catalyst.

3. In a method of reactivating a finely divided solid catalyst which includes passage of the catalyst, contaminated by a reaction, through a reactivation zone wherein contaminants are burned from the catalyst, and passage of the reactivated catalyst in suspension within a hot gaseous medium from said zone; the steps for recovering heat from the reactivated catalystcomprising separating the catalyst from said and simple and has the mini-' gaseous medium in a separator, passing the gaseous medium away from the separated catalyst, passing the catalyst by gravity from the separator without exposure to the atmosphere directly to the upper end of an upright column,

constraining th catalyst to accumulate and form in said upright column a gravity-packed mass of such length and density as to serve as a gas seal preventing passage therethrough of.

the descending packed catalyst mass througha major portion of its length.

4. In a catalyst reactivation system including means defining a catalyst reactivation zone through which a solid catalyst in a finely divided state and contaminated by a reaction is passed and within which contaminants are burned from the catalyst; an upstanding conduit, means defining a separation zone in communication with the upper end of said conduit, means to conduct the reactivated catalyst in suspension within a hot gaseous medium from the reactivation zone to said separation zone, means within the latter zone to separate the catalyst from the gaseous medium, for gravitation oi the separated catalyst into said conduit and accumulation of the catalyst therein to form a packed mass column of the catalyst, means to pass the separated gaseous medium from the separation zone, means to pass the catalyst from the lower end of the column at a rate correlated with the rate of delivery of the catalyst to the upper end of the column to maintain said column at a desired height, a jacket extending around and along the conduit and the separation zone, and means for passing a fluid to be heated through said jacket in indirect heat exchange relation to the packed catalyst mass and the gaseous medium passed through the separation zone.

5. In a catalyst reactivation system including means defining a catalyst reactivation zone through which a solid catalyst in a finely divided state and contaminated by a reaction is passed and within which contaminants are burned from the catalyst: an upstanding conduit, means 'defining a separation zone in communication with the upper end of said conduit, means to conduct the reactivated catalyst in suspension within a hot gaseous medium from the reactivation zone to said separation zone, and means within the latter zone to separate the catalyst from the gaseous medium, for gravitation of the separated catalyst into said conduit and accumulation of the catalyst therein to form a packed mass col-- umn of the catalyst, means to pass the separated gaseous medium from the separation zone, means to pass the catalyst from the lower end of the column at a rate correlated with the rate of delivery oi'the catalyst to the upper end of the column to maintain said column at a desired height, and means for passing a fluid to be heated in indirect heat exchange relation to the packed catalyst mass for heating said fluid.

6. In a catalytic conversion process wherein a solid finely divided catalyst contaminated by employment thereof in a conversion step is passed through a reactivation zone wherein contaminants are burned from the catalyst, and the reactivated catalyst is passed to a conversion zone; the steps for maintaining a required pressure differential between .said zones and for recovering heat from the reactivated catalyst in the transfer thereof between said zones, comprising separating the catalyst passed from the reactivation zone from the gases of combustion, forming and maintaining of the catalyst so separated, in the course of passage thereof to the conversion zone, a gravity-packed vertical column constituting a seal to maintain said pressure difierential, and passing a fluid to be heated in indirect heat exchange relation to the catalyst ot the column along the major portion of the length of the column and counter-current to the passage or the catalyst.

7. In a closed catalyst reactivation system including means defining a reactivation zone through which a solid catalyst in a finely divided state is passed and in which contaminants are burned from the catalyst: means defining a separation zone, means to conduct the reactivated catalyst in suspension within a gaseous medium from the reactivation zone to said separation zone; means within said separation zone to separate the catalyst from the gaseous medium; means topass the separated gaseous medium from the separation zone; an elongated upstanding conduit connected with said separation zone and constructed and arranged for gravitation of the separated catalyst thereinto to form a gravity-packed, sealing mass of catalyst; a

heat exchange chamber surrounding said upstanding conduit throughout a major portion of its length, said chamber including means to pass fluid therethrough; movement of the packed and means responsive to mass of catalyst through said conduit to control discharge of catalyst from the lower end thereof for retention or a packed mass of catalyst of predetermined height at all times.

CARL S. REED. AUGUST HENRY SCHUTTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENfIB Number Number Germany Aug. 22, 1935 

